Master of Arts in Global Development Economics
The MA GDE is an intensive three-semester program combining a strong foundation in economics with development policy training in:
- Governance and Political Economy
- International Public Health
- Infrastructure and Environmental Planning
Specifically, the program is intended for students interested in a career in the economic development of lower and middle income countries and in transition economies, including working as policy analysts and decision-makers in government, nonprofit institutions, international organizations, and the private sector.
Program Structure
The program for the MA in Global Development Economics has five components:
- Three core courses in global development policy
- Four core courses in economics
- Four elective courses in economics
- A final capstone course
- A comprehensive examination that tests general knowledge of economic theory and quantitative methods
Course Requirements
Twelve full-semester graduate courses (48 credits)
1. Global Development Policy Core Requirements
GRS IR/GE 794 Current Issues in International Environmental Affairs
GRS IR 701 Introduction to International Relations
SPH IH 770 Poverty, Health, and Development
2. Economics Core Requirements
EC501 Microeconomic Theory
EC502 Macroeconomic Theory
EC507 Statistics
EC508 Econometrics
3. Elective Courses in Economics
Four electives to be chosen from the following:
CAS EC 505 Elementary Mathematical Economics
CAS EC 521 Development Theory
CAS EC 531 Market Structure and Industrial Organization
CAS EC 541 Topics in Monetary Theory and Macroeconomics
CAS EC 542 Money and Financial Intermediation
CAS EC 545 Financial Economics
CAS EC 551 Economics of Labor Markets
CAS EC 552 Economic Organizations and Labor Markets
CAS EC 561 Public Economics I
CAS EC 562 Public Economics II
CAS EC 565 Economic Institutions in Historical Perspective
CAS EC 566 History of Public Finance and the Rise of the State in Europe
CAS EC 571 Energy and Environmental Economics
CAS EC 572 Public Control of Business
CAS EC 581 Health Economics I
CAS EC 582 Health Economics II
CAS EC 591 International Trade
CAS EC 595 International Finance
4. Capstone Course
GRS EC 798: Capstone Course
Grade Requirements.
All courses and the comprehensive examination must be passed with grades of B- or better. Students must have an overall grade point average of 2.85 in all courses taken after enrollment in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Boston University.
Time Requirement.
All courses and examinations must be completed within three years of the original registration in the Graduate School at Boston University.